Call Her Daddy - Ciara: Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time

Episode Date: October 4, 2023

Join Alex in the studio for a chat with Grammy-award winner, Ciara! Ciara reflects on some of her most iconic moments throughout her career and discusses hard lessons learned after nearly two decades in the industry. In this episode, Alex and Ciara discuss what it takes to leave a toxic relationship, what she now recognizes as red flags, and why you should always choose yourself first. Ciara gushes over her husband, Russell Wilson, and reminisces on their love story. She talks about how she knew he was “the one,” how communication is key, and what their house is like on game day. Ciara is here dishing out wisdom and advice… so get ready Daddy Gang, it’s time to level up in all aspects of life!

I experienced the transformation. Oh, she did it! Say mama. Love believes all things. Love hopes all things. I'm a bloodthirsty. Yeah, I know. I got you. Daddy gang, I am so excited for today's guest. Are you ready? Sierra is here. She is a Grammy

award-winning triple platinum musician. She's also an entrepreneur, cover model, fashion icon, wife, mother. I mean, goddamn, is there anything that she doesn't do? I cannot wait to sit down with her and get to know her today. I remember being so obsessed with her music when I was younger, fully had a dance routine to one, two step. I still remember the choreography to this day. Maybe I will have to show her my dance moves. She like fully leaves and walks out. She's like, you're so bad. No, but in all honesty, you guys, if you think about it, in her two decade long career, Sierra has seen ups and downs, but our girls always come out on top.

And daddy gang, we're getting into it today. We are going to discuss toxic relationships, knowing your worth, leveling up in all aspects of life. This episode is going to be, I already know it, full of wisdom and advice and just things that are going to make you feel good, okay? So come hang out with me and Ciara. Ciara! This is, she's like, I'm not coming in now let's go what is up daddy gang it is your founding father alex cooper with call her daddy sierra welcome to call her daddy thank you for me. I am so happy you're here. First of all, congrats on your pregnancy. Thank you.

Talk to me. How far along are you? Oh my gosh. I don't say how far along I am because I'm kind of funny on marking the time because the most important wish is a healthy baby and desire. And I feel like when you mark time, it kind of puts pressure on the time marker. Totally. But I am, I am am the bump is bumping

i'm feeling good i'm feeling a little i would say big and slow but you know i'm feeling good i'm feeling grateful so this is baby number four number four did you always want a big family i did i'm an only child so i think because of that like i used to always beg my mom and dad for a brother or sister like please please please can you have another baby? And they would be like, it's not happening. And then I kind of like being the only child as I got into my teens. I'm like, this actually works out. It's all about me.

I like it. I am such a big fan and this year marks the 20th anniversary of your debut album goodies yes yes it is crazy to think that because it's like you've just done so much in your career but to think back to those og days i'm wondering like what does it make you feel when you know that people 20 years later are still so obsessed so in love with the original hits oh my goodness i feel grateful um it's actually this is the 19th year the 20th year is coming up coming up okay yeah so but knowing that i'm about to enter that year um i feel a heart full of gratitude um it makes me feel motivated you know um it's so funny because it also just reminds you why you just keep on going

like why you don't stop why you don't stop believing and you say committed to your vision because when i was young i was like i spoke so much into like the things that i saw happening for myself and it's kind of crazy like I actually I had a goal sheet so my goal sheet I was um like 14 years old when I wrote it down before I got discovered I had three goals so the first goal was to get discovered okay and I wrote on how I was gonna get discovered so I'm gonna get talent shows and all this kind of stuff and then my second goal was once I got discovered to sell to three to four million albums and I did five which was a blessing so check off one and check off two and three was longevity so it was broad but I was still like envisioning like long-term success so to know that having a vision

as a young girl dreaming big and it actually happens dude it's kind of crazy because that's kind of the story of my life like i speak a lot of life into like a lot that happens to me um and i envision it before it happens and it's crazy that we're sitting here almost 20 years in it's also crazy to hear you at 14 putting that goal list together i'm like what the fuck was i doing at 14 like picking my nose and like getting on accutane i was like oh shit like damn like were you always that ambitious and were your parents like go sierra or were there ever like oh my god slow down like chill you don't need to be doing all this at this young of an age yeah well my dad was my mom and my dad were supportive and i always say the one thing i can say i'm truly thankful for

is that they allowed me to do what i wanted to do like they they didn't stop me. My mom was more, you know, she had more reservations than my dad did about the music industry because she watched all those VH1, like True Story. I forget what they call the show. What was the show called? Do you remember?

Yeah, something like True Hollywood Story. Yes, something like that. We're a little off, but yes. It never ends good. Yeah, basically. It's like all the bad stuff. So you watch those shows and you're like fuck yeah it's a little scary like is that what my daughter's getting into my mom was thinking

that way so i think she was a little like what's that music industry world about um and um but she still allowed me to do it and she was super supportive my mom and dad where my dad would travel late nights to the studio with me sleep on the sofa while I'm recording in the booth, drive me back home, get ready for school. I mean, he was in it. They both were supportive. So, you know, I'm glad they let me do that. Right. I'm glad they allowed me that opportunity.

And I will never forget that for my babies. Yeah. Like I got to like let them pursue their dreams and what they're passionate about. So I took a I've taken a note from that. A couple notes from your parents. I love that. Just a couple. Yeah. Yeah. You've done so much in your career when you reflect on your career. And I know this is kind of hard to answer, but like, what is the most iconic moment in your mind of your career? Oh my goodness. That's hard. I know. clear on like who this girl was like sierra from atlanta cc from atlanta um but here to stay kind

of energy i feel and i think even the imagery of things that we did like the swimsuit with the jeans and i wear my tall boxer boots um i i mean i couldn't go anywhere without the high top high tops are still my thing to this day but the boxer boots were like my jam i needed my wrestling boots actually yeah i feel like it was something that like everyone will always remember like it fashion wise music wise like as a woman like it was just so iconic i remember when it came out i like still listen to it to this day i remember making up also like oh my god and then when one two step came out and i was like making up the like most awkward dances like with my friends thinking we're like hot shit like it wasn't hot just to clarify Sierra it was not as hot as you I know it's cute no okay but um I I just think about you at that young age though and I'm curious

like if you can take me back a little bit to like what was life like you're coming out with music you're rising to fame and you're only 18 years old like yeah what was your life like at that time so I was always super super focused super driven you driven, you know, very, very headstrong. Yeah. You know, I remember when I was like, put my vision together for the project. I'm like, I want to do like this. And I'm gonna do like that. And I'm gonna do this.

And it's gonna be this. Like, and I was very clear on my vision. Like, no one could tell me anything different. And I was very opinionated at a young age. I relate in some ways to that of just being like so, yeah, like headstrong and like, I know what I'm doing. Like, I'm going to make it. I'm going to make this happen.

Sometimes I've experienced, though, you almost struggle to pause and be happy for yourself in a moment of like, oh, shit, like I did this. Yeah. Do you have a moment in your career at that young age where you were able to stop and be like oh damn like I made it like that one I made it moment do you remember that I think maybe a small blip of that was winning a Grammy oh just that was that was a very special moment for me because I'd always dreamt of something as like that's like the Super Bowl for music right it's like it doesn't get any higher than that award.

So for me, that was super special and significant. But to be honest with you, my world was going so fast. So as you can imagine, it literally was like the first 10 songs in my career, whether it was my song or collaboration. They were all top 10, top five, top three records or number one records. So I don't think I really allowed myself until a little bit later to stop and like really realize where I was and I think you realize it even more when you have a challenge when you've when you face adversity that's when you go oh you start to realize like okay exactly where things were um you know and then when you're determined you stay at it you

fight through it you battle through your challenges and and you keep it moving. And you keep on staying on the track, because that's all a part of it. But my true made it moment, though, I will say if I could pick a moment where I'm like, Oh, like was definitely winning a Grammy. Yeah, yeah. Damn, damn. Yeah, I think a lot of people are like, I hope that's my Oh, I made it moment. Here we go. Hearing you, obviously, like you're such a savvy business woman. And I'm just sitting here like thinking of you because your career started so young, like what was the hardest business lesson that you had to learn early on? Oh, you got to leave your emotions at the door. Like, you know, there's a time and a place for sincerity and being emotional, especially as a woman. So early on I learned that.

I'm like, in business there's no gray. It's only black and white. So if you can find a way to manage your emotions, it's game changing. Because you also realize that a lot of people in our industry don't really care for your emotions. A lot of people don't really care in general. It's like, what can you do for me in this moment? What can you do for me in general? That's kind of the mentality for a lot of people don't really care in general it's like what can you do for me in this moment what can you do for me in general that's kind of the mentality for a lot

of people a lot of my experiences and then when you know the good ones you hold on to them and you value them but i think being a young woman being determined um you know and all that good stuff and having to like manage my stuff like mind you my parents weren't like you know navigating this world for me i was a young girl like hiring and firing and do i mean like everything so the emotions i had to learn early take them leave them at the door yeah yeah do you think that like on a personal level like how did you stay grounded while you're getting like famous and pictures and everything like where did you find your center core I'll be honest with you I'm a spiritual girl right I think I think a lot of

people know that but so for me my foundation was that I had faith I for me I know who God and Jesus is like that's important for me right everybody has their thing but I think that kind of helps to keep me like level set the people around me like this day, I still call my boy Jasper, who I met when I was like 14 years old, recorded my first song. Like he was there in the booth with me. So mind you, that's 20 plus years of relationship. My best friend and makeup artist,

who's been in my career since I was 16, my first professional shoot as a solo artist, actually my first professional shoot in general, she did that. So we're 20 plus years of friendship and she's my matron of honor um my team i stay pretty consistent i try to keep it like i'm a creature of habit i think consistency is key but i do believe having people having that consistent group of people in circle people that i can trust yeah and know they got my back i think that was a

big part that um really helped me to stay like level headed and to be able to reset or have a place to go to. Because I always say, I don't care how strong you are. I don't care how capable you are. You have to have somebody you can talk to. Like, that is so important. Because the one thing that is very detrimental to can be detrimental to a person is when you bottle stuff in and you don't have a place to go. So for me, I think having a place to go has always been a great thing for me or someone I can trust and talk to. Even if it's just one person, everybody doesn't have to know your stuff, but just one person.

If you have one, you have enough for me personally. And then, of course, I pray and all that good stuff. I appreciate you sharing that because, again,, obviously most people that are going to listen, like they can't relate to maybe some parts of your life, but that's some of the most relatable shit is like making sure that you have good people around you and actually people that you trust. And it doesn't have to be a lot of people, but I think if you don't have good people, you can lose your way because if you're, then you're potentially hanging out with people that could sway you or you don't trust and then you have trust issues. It's like making sure, you know, people are there for the right reasons, which sometimes

you can't, you have to just trust. And sometimes you get screwed over. 100%. You got to have people that, you know, are going to be honest with you that will, you know, hold you accountable. But it's also how they hold, how do they hold themselves? Like how do they live their lives too, right? You can't have the wrong people feeding you, like you said. Like, that's when it is dangerous, right? And one thing I have learned is that when you're vulnerable, that is the most crucial spot to listen to the right person.

Because you can listen to the wrong person when you're vulnerable, and they can send you completely left, right? Like, that's the thing about life. It's, like, amazing how one decision can change your life for better or for worse one decision right so who's feeding you when you're vulnerable like that's so important you even see some celebrities and you can tell like the people that maybe don't have people with the right intentions in their camp because it's like of course like you guys at some point can be just reduced to like an object of like, go here, go here, go here.

We're all making money off of you. And at some point you have to decide like you're the one that keeps it all moving. So you have to advocate for yourself in some capacity, like keep those people that actually have the right intentions and the right, like they want the best for you. And that's hard though. It is. It's hard. But you know, my thing is, is like, there's a line in the Bible. It talks about what good is it for a man to gain the world and lose his soul.

One of the, my, one of my greatest fears is to have a certain amount of success. It's like the highest level, but to not know who I am. And I'm very, very full. I'm very intentional about that. Like making sure I'm checking myself too. Like I got to check myself sometimes too. And it's like, I want to be incredibly successful, but I don't want it that much. I'm like lost in the end. Right. Imagine it all comes out.

You get, we pray we all get to 80, 90. Yeah. And you're like, I did it for all what? I got no one around me. I got nothing that I don't even know who the hell I am. I'm glad I got the Grammys and the awards and the albums, but like, who am I? Empty. Yeah. I'm so terrified of that and I see it happen so often in my industry like a lot of the

greats that I respected and admired a lot of their stories like it's not that beautiful story that you saw and why you fell in love with what they do and I'm just like man like that's not truly living to me like it can't't, my life, my, the success of my life can also be based off of the materialistic stuff and the awards and all those great things. Like that's, that just can't be enough to fill my cup because honestly, sometimes those things don't happen for you when you want them to happen anyways. Like there's still things that I wish I could do, I'm hoping to do, and it may not happen. So I've got to make sure I have a level set and understanding of like, what is my definition of success? When you're so young,

you look so far ahead, like, and you should, you should look far ahead and you shouldn't dream big, but you're like sometimes so honed in on like, you know, all these things that you have so much time to get to. And it's like, you know, you got to have perspective, right? You got to like stay rooted within yourself and know who you are along the way. Because you can lose yourself. It's so true. And I appreciate you saying that. Because it's like, I feel like we right now our culture is very like, go, go, go, you want more, we want the coolest fashion, we want money, we want success, we want the big cars and the houses and the cool things. And if you don have it then you're a loser and you're not as cool yes there's just so much

comparison right now and especially for women it's just like the aging aspect and like we're not good enough if we don't get there's just so much what is something that you learned in your 20s that you still carry with you to this day that you can share with us? Patience. I really, that's one of my favorite words. Well, actually perspective is one of my favorite words, but also patience. I would say patience is everything. You know, sometimes, like I say, you want things to happen at a certain marker for you and they may not happen until you're 50 or 60 years old. You just don't know, right? So to me, you got to have patience in the process, like trust the timing that's meant for you. Things are going to happen for you when they're supposed to. Even for me, you got to have patience in the process, like trust the timing that's meant for you. Things are going to happen for you when they're supposed to.

Even for me, I have to remind myself when stuff is ugly. I'm like, this is a part of life. Yeah. Right. This is you're supposed to have a little bit of the ugly. Like I say, sometimes you have to go through the ugly to get to the pretty. Yeah. Right.

Even also you saying earlier, you were like, I didn't even stop in moments because like when everything's going well, you just keep moving. And the hardest moments are the moments that you actually are hip checked with yourself to be like, whoa, first of all, so grateful for the good times. Yeah. Because this shit's rough right now. And you then gain that perspective. Yeah.

I also think what you're saying about patience is really important, too, especially with people in this young generation. I feel it of like the patience of like the comparison is oh my god that person got that job and i didn't get the job or i didn't get the thing i wanted and it's like we're comparing ourselves to the person around us or our friends around us everything moves at a different pace yeah it does and the reason you didn't get that job is for a reason because you're going to get another thing i'm trying to tell you it's hard yeah and sometimes too things look pretty on the, but you don't know what somebody is going through when you're like looking at what they have going and you want what they have. Girl. You don't know what they're going

through. No clue. Right. So it's like, you got to trust your own timing. Like, you know, it's, it's so much better that way. Like, do you know what's crazy for me is I remember like in the days of me, you know, being signed to traditional labels traditional labels, and I would look up and I'd watch other artists. I'm like, I've been around the block for a long time, but she just come in and she looking like she rolling two times faster than what I just. And I'm busting my butt. I'm like, I know I work hard and she works. I know she ain't showing up how I show.

And it looks like the world is just going so taken off of them. It's like, you know what? That's for them. And and celebrate it too actually I think there's something really good about celebrating the success of others because when it's your time it's going to happen for you things take time yeah right it's so true and it's also like like you said like if someone pops off so fast and it's so different like we don't know what they're going through maybe they're also really struggling. Like, who the hell has popped off so fast and been like, mental health is at 100.

Like, it's not a thing. It gets crazy. And sometimes, too, I think when you go so fast in the beginning, you don't have much to look forward to. Or you don't appreciate it. Like, I appreciate every step of the way for myself because of what i've gone through and i know for a fact i wouldn't appreciate it if i had everything given to me the world given to me when i wanted it you know when i wanted it basically and it's like me telling my kids like you can't have everything at you know can you imagine how crazy the world would be if we had

everything we wanted when we wanted it like that would be nuts nuts we'd all be miserable crazy like crazy like we'd be running around like crazy town all of it i'm telling you everybody be lost like you know like losing it too so there's something to like you know the struggle there's something to adversity there's something to getting knocked down and getting back up there's something to like all of that good stuff right and just like trust the process like if this meant for you it's going to happen for you when it's supposed to how it's supposed to and it's going to be so great it is kind of about the process of like letting things play out then you appreciate

it more you have more understanding of who you are as a human being when you go through more shit like you do you come out on top because you have learned experiences rather than just getting it all you're like oh this was easy yes speaking of relationships um i want to talk to you about love and relationships obviously you're married to russell wilson the denver broncos quarterback we love that for you it's so cute to see like it seems like you guys have such a healthy and loving relationship um I see online people commenting like Sierra like where do I find my Russell like where do I find like my couple goals and obviously in order to get to a healthy relationship you got to go through things before you get to that point and I want to talk to you a little bit about growing and learning and how you

got to where you are now around the time that met Russell, you were going through a really public and what looked like painful breakup. And I think about like, leaving a relationship is so hard to make that decision, especially I'm assuming as you when you have a child. How did you know for yourself, it was time to leave. Oh my goodness. When you know you're supposed to make a super defined decision in your life, you know it from like the head to your feet, from your feet to your head and your soul and your body, you know it. And it's almost like your taste buds change, right? You have a taste bud for a certain kind of thing and then the taste buds just go. You got to sometimes also look in the mirror and reflect on yourself, too.

Right. Like, OK, what are things that I could be doing differently in my life? Or, you know, what's a part of what I'm looking for a change? But what does that mean? So you have to kind of define everything about making changes in your life that are very critical. And, you know, I've talked about before, obviously, when you have a child, it's very important to me. Like now it's no time to play around. Like the whole like experimentation kind of phase is out the door.

It's like I am now responsible for another life. Right. So what am I doing? Like how am I thinking that through? So, you know, and then when you're tired, you're tired. You're tired. You know, and so we get tired and we don't want to be tired all the time like you know I'm like I want to I want joy I want to make sure my cup is full like how am I living my life like I always say don't let

nobody waste your time like that's one thing like we talk about like you know you know life and the trajectory of life and what you know it's like I don't care if it's relationship or friendship business whatever it is like don't let it waste your time it's just not worth it yeah right so yeah I mean those are those are things that come to my mind how I process when I'm making a pivotal when it there's a pivotal moment in my life and in in any aspect of life. When you hear people talk about it, it does seem like, oh, that's so simple. But when you're in it, it is like, it's really hard to collect yourself when you're trying to leave something and you're like, you're so used to something. Yeah. Even if it's toxic, like I have women write into me, Sierra, that are like it. The fear of being alone

sometimes is worse than the fear of staying in something toxic. And I wonder like what advice you have. Well, the thing is, is that what you do learn is toxicity will, it can kill you. Like toxicity, putting toxic things into your body is not good. It's not like, so I think it's like, we have to be real with ourselves right it's like what do you want out of life for yourself you have to be a little selfish in your thought process and whatever's around you needs to align with that right like you know that's important like but that whole like the toxic like is like there's nothing fun about you know being confused all the time or someone taking you on like the ring

around like that's not that's not fun it's not fun and i feel like from my personal experience like i've been in some toxic relationships where it almost you can normalize it like when you're in it for long enough and i like that you spoke about it like there is a moment and and I pray for a lot of women listening like you catch that moment before it gets really detrimental to your own health but like there's that moment you know but for a while you can like have full blinders on and just not see it because it becomes so normalized I'm wondering like when you were younger like what is something that you now recognize is a red flag but at the time you would either like ignore or maybe like turn away from well yes like how is a person talking to you how do they treat

others how do they what you know you do ignore a lot of stuff like when you just want to see what you want to see but again when you start thinking holistically it's like you know no one's going to be perfect but you do want the one that's perfect for you. Like, and how many boxes can they check off for you that fits, like, what your desire is? And it should be both ways, right? Me and Russell, we always talk about being equally yoked. Like, for us from day one, like, honestly, I think it was a, you know, healthy place. And I thank God because we always saw, we kind of saw a lot of things the same way.

So I think that's more than half the battle when you're kind of aligned. Yes, it's definitely like how someone talks to you. What's their track record? Girl, what's the track record? And sometimes, too, like, listen, you know, you don't you again, you see things how you see them. Like sometimes you do overlook things because of your perspective and again it's like you're trying to see things like the glass has full like you're trying to see it from a positive lens but again like what's a person doing i think more than anything it's

like they can tell you everything a person can be like oh i've changed and i'm doing that and i've heard those stories before of course i've heard that song before um but what are they doing right and I think sometimes you tend to put the words before the actions right you listen you listen more versus like just watching like how are they showing up or not showing up like and then sometimes you don't realize like they're telling you it's like they're telling you the same thing in a different way it's like well wait a minute what you told me last time you told me the same thing again and you're doing the same thing again so like what the fuck you know you know i'm saying like yeah and yeah and i love what you said about you and russell it's like we're very similar in the way

that we think and what we like and what we believe in and like of course everyone's different but when you find yourself trying to make something work so hard and you're the one that's constantly effort forgiving or coming back full stop yeah red flag red flag yeah for sure it's like it takes two yeah you know and like how are you showing up? Like, you ain't showing up. So I ain't showing up either. I'm actually going, I'm out. Like, yeah, I ain't showing up and I'm cool. Like, you ain't going to exhaust me. Because honestly, you can lose yourself in those moments.

Like, and like I said, it's one of my greatest fears. And I've been there before. I'm looking at someone, I'm like, you ain't going to waste my life. I'm sorry. Like, that's not an option. It's so scary though right it is scary it is scary but you know you gotta like put your foot down for what you want and what you deserve all the girlies are taking notes right now they're like fuck yes yeah like yeah but don't be afraid no yeah you're right don't be afraid of like the best part is leaving the best part is leaving. The best part is getting out. The best part is finding yourself without that person.

And obviously you now are in such a healthy relationship. It looks and I'm so happy for you. Just like even when you talk about him, I can just tell like, yeah, like you're happy. And so I also wonder like when you go into a healthy relationship, I think sometimes it's so annoying, but like sometimes we can't help but bring our baggage and our habits from our past relationships that we've had in our life. Like, was there anything that you had to unlearn, essentially, when you got into your relationship with Russell? Leave it at the door.

Leave it at the door. I think that's so important for yourself and your own sanity, but it's also not fair to your partner to bring old baggage that is from the past because then I think you don't give yourself an opportunity to fully be in that love and be engulfed in that love and to create something fresh for yourself before Russ came into my life like I didn't think he was coming to my life that fast to be honest with you. But before he came into my life, the place that I was at mentally when I decided, like, you know, I'm I'm desiring something different. And I was clear on like I was very intentional in that phase of my life. And obviously you have my baby in my life, my my firstborn. You know, I took that moment for myself. Because I think sometimes too, like if we go

back to back, you know, in relationships, you also are having a chance to like make peace with yourself. And to really like, tap into you in a way that you maybe don't know you need to, but you need to sometimes pause, like take a break. And just like love on yourself, reset, get clarity. You know, the past is the past where are you trying where you want to and really to look ahead like and be clear and intentional with that so I think I will say the the moment before Ross came into my life I said I thought I was going to be single for like four years at least I was like I'm not doing this. I'm tired. I'm tired. Like, I'm like, what's going on? And I'm also self-reflecting.

It's everything going on. Right. So I had like to go through that phase and that process and that journey, you know. And so in that moment when you're resetting, the things that are of the past, they're starting to become of the past to you. Right. So it's like you're already clearing up your mind just in general for yourself. Like not even for someone to come into my life, but just me doing this self-cleanse thing I need to do with myself. Like really find myself.

Like who am I? Like what's this woman want to feel like when she walks throughout the world? Like what does she talk like? What does she think like? Like I mean it's all these things that are about myself.'m like this is what I need for me right and then of course like who's gonna be in her life like I'm thinking about these things and I'm like I mean my mind is as vivid as it can be and like he's gonna be a man of God like he's gonna love kids because I have a child now I'm like he's gonna love to like travel the world like I mean these things, like I'm envisioning it so much that I can taste.

So you talk about those taste buds, that taste buds starts to have a palate. It's like fit for all that stuff. So I'm thinking that way, you know, already. So when I see it, I know it. And when I saw my honey, my husband, like I've never seen anything like that. Yeah. Never. I haven't talked to anyone like that. Like I've never seen anything like that. Yeah. Never. I haven't talked to anyone like that.

Like, I haven't felt anything like that. But I felt everything that I, like, I almost gonna cry. My hormones. But maybe it's not my hormones. But I could, like, see, like, it was exactly what I was seeing right in front of me. Like, it's crazy. Oh, my God. Like, crazy. When did you meet him? Like, what was the how when when did you meet him like what was the situation how did you

meet when did you meet him like what was the situation how did you meet we met um when did you meet him like what was the situation how did you meet we met um when we meet what year was this 20 oh gosh 2015 okay in 2015 okay um where were you we were actually in california and the crazy thing is we started talking early at first um we were chatting a little bit and then we had our first in-person meeting before we so before we met in person we were chatting a little bit and then we had our first in-person meeting before we so before we met in person we were chatting a little bit and when he met in person was the craziest thing because i was trying to make sure i'm doing this right because mind you i hadn't met a guy at this point i hadn't talked to a guy or anything at this point so i'm like this is like you know it's a guy in general and then and he always hosts

he was like well because i'm like well when we were meeting i'm like i also was looking at it from a friendship perspective you know i'm just saying like you know the build-up before you get there he was like what friendship he's like i want to look for no friend you know so we joke about that i love it because i want to be like really like best fun and like yeah what are you talking about i mean but he was cute though you know you know but you know we gonna start we're gonna go on phases kind of thing right but when we met in person um the first time in person we talked um was actually at my place oh and you know the it was kind of the not kind of but it was the best

thing for the both of us we felt because even though we were you know meeting as friends and all that stuff even though we're not in that it's not a deal my son was there and my dad was there so see the friendship perspective oh yeah you really were like you meet my he's probably like oh my god i'm meeting the dad you're like no you're just a homie no no no no no no we actually talked about it and you know what did he say to me he was like well i'm gonna have to meet him anyways like this is very like i love it confident very so i'm like you know so we meet and again that's not that's not like a traditional way. I'm not telling someone to do that. Yeah. But because it's he and I, you know, your public figures in our world. Unfortunately, oftentimes I think if you jump, you put the cart before the horse before you are officially together.

The world puts this pressure on you. And this is just become something else that it kind of like gets in the way of what, you know true, like the true thing is that's there could be. So we just were being private, basically. We were going to go out to dinner and then we kind of like, let's keep it in. What did you guys do? So we just talked and we were supposed to have dinner. Food was like, belly was like content. Even though it was hungry, it was content. Like, you know, because we were like talking and talking and talking. And it was hungry it was content like you know because we were like talking and talking and

talking and it was crazy everything that we talked about like we were aligned on like and I'm not gonna lie to you it was one point in time we were talking and he was talking to me and I wasn't hearing nothing he was saying because I was like he's so beautiful like I'm looking at him I'm like he's like gorgeous like because I didn't like look I didn't look him up I don't want to know anything about like him before we met right so I'm just like wow yeah no I was I was literally just sitting there like he's talking I'm like oh wait but just run yeah just run no but the words are going like this over my head and so yes you know do you agree you're like uh-huh what'd you What'd you say? Yeah, I love that. For sure. I mean, I'm hearing what he's saying.

I'm in the conversation. But I can't remember all that we were saying. He's looking great. It was nice. So we just sat and talked. And I knew. And I said this the other day. When I was talking to him, I was like, this is something different.

I knew that I'd never felt what i felt in that moment i knew this was a different man that i was talking to than you know i just knew like i just it was different like so much of the point that i called yoli my best friend i called her after and i said yoli i was like i don't want to jinx anything I was like but I think he's and she goes the one and I go yes like I and I never said that in my life never said that in my life so he was meant to be without a doubt but without a doubt what was it about him that really impressed you that day it was you know what his conversation how he talked about life it's also a feeling too you know it's kind of hard to put in words but I know I know what

I'm talking to like I said those taste buds are activated like I'm talking to like every since everything that I had on the palate was like it was stimulated it was like clear like um you know and so i just knew like even how he talked to my dad you know and my son was like moving around and at some point in time like he's holding him like there was actually this funny thing y'all think we ever told by this but where there's this chair that's like in my living in my kitchen. And the chair is like about to fall over. And future is literally, my son, he's right there. And literally Russ like slides in the socks, catches the chair. It honestly, no, this may sound dramatic, but no lie.

He slides over, catches the chair. And I'm like, okay. Okay. Superman. We got a Superman. No, but you know. You're literally sitting there like, no, it was just everything. No, everything about everything. Like there wasn't one thing that wasn't something like, do you know what I mean? I know what you're saying too. And I think it's

important because obviously, like you said, which I love that you're explaining, after a breakup of what you know you don't want anymore and you have that moment within yourself, you quickly align of like, whoa, I got to get my shit together. Like, I didn't like how I felt. I didn't like this, this, this, this, or I liked this and I want to bring this into my next relationship, whatever it is. But then when you meet that person, especially when you've had maybe the not like the healthiest of relationships before yeah it's a feeling of like you still have those like giddy butterflies like we said like you're drooling in the corner yeah yeah but it's you there's a sense of like calmness and i remember i felt it with my fiance because i it was like he is kept it keeps me on my toes and it's so exciting but it's like

safe and calm and i'm not insecure and i'm not like there's still that feeling of like oh you want to impress them and have fun but it's a different level of connection where you feel like you've known them for a long time yeah you know what i mean it is like there's something there that you're like whoa like your souls almost this is like corny but like it's like almost like you knew you were supposed to meet no one 100 no no no 100 like because that's what and also too like and i i think i've said this but just in case It's like almost like you knew you were supposed to meet. No, 100%. No, no, no, no, no. 100%. Like, because that's what, and also too, like, and I think I've said this, but just in case, it's like literally the conversation we're having is so aligned.

Like you're going back and forth and then you're like, you're going like, yes. Like everything you're saying is like a fiery kind of feeling to it because you're like almost talking to yourself a little bit. Yes. Right. But there's something you made me think about. Hold on, wait, let me see. see oh with the giddy thing right what's so amazing and I feel so blessed because now we are in year seven of marriage eight years of being together well baby anyway no is that I still get the giddy

feeling I think it's so important we always talk about that right is that you still want to like you Russ always says you know I believe his dad was hitting like you gotta always compete it's kind of one of his things he came up with but you gotta always compete so it is that thing where it's like even though you do build a comfort over time you still want to like you know you still want to make sure you keep it like cute you want to keep it sexy you want to keep it spicy you want you keep it, like, cute. You want to keep it sexy. You want to keep it spicy. You want to keep it fun.

Like, we still do date nights every Friday. Oh, wow. Because in football, that's the off day. So we do date nights every Friday, and we stay committed to that. And we, like, look forward. It's something I look forward to. And the fires, they burn. Like, you know, and you still feel like dating all over.

The other night, we played Uno at dinner. And I was like, and I said, babe, can we take the Uno cards? And he was like, yeah. You know. but and he played uno but that was the little things and i was like i had so much i literally told him the next morning i had so much fun like so i think it's like you know it's it's all that you know it's like you know do you do you have someone in your life that's also down to try new things with you like do they accept you at your lowest of your low points right like every day is not perfect yeah like i've had moments where i look up you know and i'm going through a challenging time and he's the one person the only person i can look to in

that moment and he has always has the right words to say like you know all those things are important too like how does a person speak to you when you're at your low right in your relationship because that's key like it's really you too. Like, when it's all said and done, like, it's you too. And you have your kids, of course, too. But like, it's the two of you. Even hearing you too, like, when he came over, it wasn't just you. Like, you had a son.

Like, you have a son. You're bringing someone into your life that now is not just going to be a relationship with yourself. You need to also have a relationship with my son. Like how did he take on being a stepfather? He jumped right in changing the diapers right away. Um, no hesitation. He's an amazing father. Like watching him with all of our kids is like, it is one of the sweetest things. It's one of the sexiest things, to be honest with you. I'm just saying, ladies, when a man jumps's one of the sexiest things to be honest with you

i'm just saying ladies when a man jumps in and changes the diapers and he be pulling up to the teacher parent conferences and he be you know it's like oh he surprised cc at the dentist the other day and she was like daddy and i was like daddy i it is that's what you want like you so good that feels good you know it's like it feels it feels good when you know there's something about a man turning on that part of them like you know they're manning for you they're they're being a man for you but they're also being a man for your family yeah like there's no better feeling than knowing that when we all look up and we if we look at him like he's got us like i know he's gonna wrap his arms around me and my babies fully like there's no depth that he won't go to go you know go to for us or to make sure things are like right for us like that that is kind of hard to put that in words but that feels good we gotta know

sierra what what is your favorite part about being married to a professional athlete oh gosh um you know it's crazy i left football before he came into my life like i'm a tomboy so i watched the game with my my dad growing up um but you know i mean, I think I say that because I think that you really enjoy, I really enjoy the journey with him. I enjoy the highs and the lows with him. I enjoy his competitive nature. Like I really respect it. Like, one thing about Russ is like, when it comes to football, he is so dedicated to football. It's like football and family, football, family. I mean, he's really dedicated to his game and I really admire that. So obviously doing what I do,

I feel like I get so much of a motivational dose like every day on his journey and what I do. Like I get really inspired. Like, you know, you would think that I'm in the huddle with him when he's in the huddle.

You would think that because like I'm in the huddle with him when he's in the huddle. You would think that because, like, I'm in this thing. But we have so much fun. Like, sports, you know, sports are such a powerful force. Music is a powerful force. So it's such a blessing to have sports and music in our household. But I do enjoy, like, the joy that we get even, you know, like I say, the highs and the lows, getting ready for each Sunday or if it's a Monday night or a Thursday night. You know, the jump up in our household with the kids, like also being excited and being able. It's just a whole like it's a blessing.

I was about to say, like, tell us what's the vibe of the house on game day? Like, what are we doing? Okay, game day. Okay, so Russ is a creature of habit okay so he's he's like very consistent so it's very routine um you know he does his body work his treatment work and all that good stuff um and he's in his peace then and typically when he does it i'm with him so mommy's like okay kids like i'll be right back like but i gotta be there like in that zen moment um and then he goes through his motion to prepare for the game and then the kids are definitely

upstairs running around like chaos turns up excited you know it's not that serious for them at this age um although i will say future is getting more serious he's also into sports too so he can feel a little bit of the journey too sienna's like go daddy yeah and when it's like go go i mean this is this different levels right but um we have that flow and then um he gets ready we do it we he gets ready to roll out the door we do prayer every every time before a game as a family he goes off to do his thing and then it's me and the babies we're getting ourselves together we ride to the car we jam out i'm dj mama the kids are djs too they all want to pick their own songs it's all the good energy rolling up to the stadium and um and then we roll into the suite and then you know when you sit down i'm not gonna lie to you guys especially being pregnant the emotional

roller coaster is like oh lord i'd be talking to myself like i mean it's just a journey i'm like geez heart stop pumping so fast sometimes like it's crazy i love it though it's crazy because you feel like i said i'm in the huddle too i'm out there like you know let's go boys you know i'm i'm wanting you know always the best outcome so um it's so good but it's fun and after the game we eat wanting, you know, always the best outcome. So it's so good, but it's fun. And after the game, we eat dinner together, you know, or whatnot. And it's but it's pretty chill. It's exciting, but it's pretty chill.

Right. Because it's super, you know, Russ is really serious about what he does. And I think it's important that we respect that journey, that process for him. Yeah. You know, on a daily basis. So we try to make sure we kind of, you know, it's a combination of all that stuff. I love it. But it's fun.

I'm thinking of you saying you're also in the car with your babies. I'm like, do you play them your music? Do they know mom's music? Okay, when it's new. Okay. I don't like playing my music back to me. I just feel like that's kind of weird sometimes. But I'm not going gonna lie to you tell me

when i have a song that i really love i might listen to myself a little bit you know just a little bit um you know and my kids they may pick my songs like when i put up level up they love that song um i'm honestly i'm not saying because it's my record but i really love my song how we roll that's my jam and i ain't gonna lie i put it on the other day and played it back about seven times i'm like this song just feels so good like it gives me the you know also same with like loki and brb i was like okay like it's it's it's a vibe and i i wonder if russell plays it in the car for the kids while you're not there he's like guys this is mommy he will you know he's really big on like guys you gotta listen to mommy's music he will make sure they know my music or hear it and listen to it

but he'll definitely make sure the kids like you know support mommy which is sweet like they i think one day it was like the kids were having a pick between one song or the other i don't even know what the songs were but one of them was mine and one wasn't and he was like you better pick your mom's song you know so like let's keep it real we know who we support in this family let's make sure we you know i love it yes it's really cute to eat because i'm sitting here and i'm like you've won a grammy he's won a super bowl like you guys are the ultimate power couple and i think a lot of people look at you guys and envy you obviously and it's like whoa their life is so amazing like when you do go through the hard moments like how do you guys level set each other like what is the process of keeping each other

grounded and keeping each other like being able to be honest and communicate i think has been game-changing for us um and even when it's ugly sometimes it's gotta get a little like i said get a little ugly before you get to the pretty um But I just think some, like, there's nothing better for me than knowing, like, I was able to say what I felt fully and he heard me. Yeah. And don't you like it too? And vice versa. It's different in that type of relationship where, you know, like, you're both trying

to come back together and, like, you both have the same goal. Like, no one's winning. We actually just have to hear each other, understand it, where in other relationships I've had, it's like, oh, this is just an ego thing. Like, I'm never going to win because you aren't even listening to what I'm saying when you say the word toxic it kind of rings a certain way for me because like I said you earlier I'm like toxic things can do damage to you it can be harmful to you so the glorifying of things that are harmful to you will never be cool to me never be cool like never be fly never be the to me. Never be cool. Like never be fly, never be the way of, you know, um, it's just,

that's just not it to me personally. So you have this great relationship now knowing the relationships you've had in the past of like, sometimes you got to go through the bad to get to the good, like we said. So it is exciting for, I think for women listening of like, oh, like even if you're in the trenches right now listening to this and you're not in a healthy relationship or you're not feeling good about yourself or it's an abusive situation, whatever you're in, like you can get out and you can find happiness and you can find what you deserve. But again, patience, like give yourself some grace. It can't happen overnight. 100%. But it is nice to hear from you of like, it can happen. It can happen, baby baby let's talk about

your music though because like i said we were all jamming to it in the office say we were just like laughing we were blasting it we're like how creepy if she like rolls up and we're just like screaming your music but now i'm like i think you would have liked it it would have been kind of fun i might jump in and dance with you hey your epcc i need to understand. Who is Cece? Who is Ciara? Talk about the two. So Cece and Ciara are connected. It's not an alter ego. But there is an energy that comes out when you say Cece.

Like, I turn my lip up a little bit. You get a little stank with it. I'm from Atlanta. So, you know, there's a lot of soul in what we do there. And, you know, when I came up, it was obviously my nickname. But people would like you know when they say go CC go CC go go CC go see like there's an energy that comes with that there's a feeling that comes with that and it's you know it's I would say um I just I really on this project I wanted to make sure I had those core elements of what that is because that's something special for me from a music standpoint yeah like when you say go cc when you say go cc go cc go like there's something

about that that's just like a little it's a little saucy you know and so um you know that that's kind of it it's not an alter ego though yeah it's just like a little bit more of like a little vibe yeah like a little sassy vibe got a little more sass to her. See, Sierra, you know, if you talk to me and I'm in my like Sierra mode and it depends on the situation, I try to like, you know, like Michelle said,

when they go low, you go high. Yeah. You know, that kind of thing. Cece might, she might snap back a little bit. She might bite back a little bit. Just a little bit. I love it. I love it. Just a little more, you know back a little bit just a little bit i love it i love it

a little more you know what do you want people to like feel when they're listening to this music like is there a specific place you envision people listening to it what's the vibe i feel like this music on this project is kind of like that perfect house party energy um where you can like kick back if you want to it's feel good it's a little it's a it's a sexy record but it's also if you want to like chill back people if you want to roll up roll up on the skates or roll up literally if you want to you know put toast up to it if you want to my song two in love it's a slower record that's a moment where i'm trying to remember it's like one night russ and i like had a little bit of a disagreement. And I'm like, gosh, the truth is I'm just too in love, you know?

No, when I was listening to it, I was like, oh my gosh, this is really all about how in love you are. And I love it. It's so sweet. It's so sweet. Well, you know, it's that feeling on that record where it's like, you're upset. Like, you know, I watchediktok or something someone was doing and they were like mad at each other it's like this is how couples do when you're mad like

but you still love each other and like you slam the car you let them in the car but you slammed their heart or you like gotta give them food but you open the fridge with attitude and you close the fridge with attitude like that kind of energy so like on two in love I'm like like you he always put his arms around me a certain way and like if he doesn't do it I'm like like when we're sleeping I'm like I feel that like but I mean I want to be mad too but I want you to put your arm on me like you know I'm like it's like all those kind of feelings so before I put this project out it's exactly like what I wanted it to be and there's no better feeling than that yeah you now being able to do things on your own and figure out

what you want to continue to sound like as your career continues to grow and expand yeah um it's just truly was such an honor sitting with you today because like you are such an accomplished woman and and sitting with you and getting any of the wisdom we can get from you today sierra i know i'm like i'm taking it in no i'm like everyone's writing notes like you're just such an inspiration and it's really surreal for me to sit down with you today because i'm such a fan and thank you thank you thank you and congrats on your baby thank you so happy you're expanding the family maybe we'll see a number five at one point you sound like Russ.

Don't get crazy now. Okay, let's just go one baby at a time. Thank you, Sierra. Thank you. I had so much fun. And congratulations to you. You were like killing it. Like I think there was this new article about you on Forbes.

And, you know, I mean, keep on doing what you're doing. You're obviously doing, you're obviously giving a platform for women you've created a platform for women that is very important and critical and your personality is incredible so keep on shining your light thank you cheers

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